Koolee stein drink device
A drink device 16 is shown and described. The drink device 16 can be located adjacent to a beverage can 17 such that a first position provides closure of the drinking hole 36 on the top of can 17. When the user applies a force to the drink device 16 the drinking hole 36 is exposed (second position) allowing the user to consume the beverage. When the force is removed from the drink device 16 another manual force is used to close the drinking device 16 adjacent to the drinking hole 36 or first or closed position. Alternatively, a spring 68 and spring force is used to bias the drinking device 16 against the drinking hole 36 and the top of the can 17 or back to the first or closed position. Decorative items such as stickers and sports paraphernalia can be affixed to the top of the pivot top.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/214,998 filed on Sep. 6, 2015, entitled “Koolee Stein Drink Device”. The above identified Provisional Application for Patent is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.
FIELDThe present version of these embodiments relate generally to the field of devices that prevent insects, unwanted materials or debris from getting into a persons beverage can in a first position and in a second position, allows the user to consume the beverage from the can.
BACKGROUNDThese embodiments relate to devices that prevent unwanted materials from getting into a users beverage can, and more particularly to a device that can be affixed to a beverage can and has a first position and second position. In the first position the device is closed against the top of the beverage can and in the second position allows the user to drink from the beverage can.
People enjoy drinking beverages and many types of beverages are canned. This includes water, soda, juices, alcoholic beverages and even milk have been known to come in readily available 12 or 11.5 ounce and many other sized cans. These cans are generally made from aluminum and one cannot view the amount of beverage in the can or the empty space, insects or debris in the can. These cans generally have a pop top where the user lifts a tab that forces a pre stamped indentation tab into the can opening the can, whereby the beverages can then be consumed.
While this is generally acceptable and well known, there can be issues with leaving the top of a beverage open and not closely monitoring the opening of the can. There have been many cases of insects especially bees and other stinging insects that are seeking sugary or other interesting smelling or aromatic liquids entering cans. There are well know cases of nefarious individuals dumping various drugs into another persons beverage can. If one is allergic to stinging insects the consequences of taking a drink from a can with a stinging insect inside can be very dangerous as they may then be stung in the mouth, throat, tongue or lips. This can cause a medical emergency. If illegal drugs are slipped into the beverage, other bad consequences can ensue as one can well imagine. When consuming beverages outdoors various other materials can fall into an open beverage can such as tree or bush debris or even bird feces.
There is a need for a device that has a first position that can seal off the opening of a beverage can when a user is not drinking; and have a second position that will allow the user to drink from the beverage can. It would be helpful if the device defaulted to the first position such that the user does not have to consciously engage the device to remember to position the device back to the first or sealed off position. This device should be relatively cheap, relatively fool proof and not be inconvenient to use such that persons drinking from beverage cans will utilize it.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a Koolie Stein Drink Device.
SUMMARYIn view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the background art there is a need for a device that can seal off an open beverage container in a first position and allow consumption of the beverage in a second position.
A first objective of these embodiments is to provide a device that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
Another objective of these embodiments is to provide a device that will fit many different sized beverage cans.
It is yet another objective of these embodiments to provide a device that is attractive and novel in design and function.
Another objective of these embodiments is to provide a device that requires manual input to close the device.
It is a still further object of these embodiments to provide a device that automatically defaults to the closed position.
Another objective of these embodiments is to provide a device that requires a positive action by the user to provide access to the beverage in the can.
These together with other objectives of these embodiments, along with various features of novelty which characterize these embodiments, are pointed out with particularity in this application forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of these embodiments, the operating advantages and the specific objectives attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment.
Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there is shown in
The drink device 16 has two major components, the arm 18 which has a top end 20 located near the top of the can 17 and a bottom end 22 which, when installed on the can 17 is near the bottom of the can,
The pivot top 42 is connected to the arm 18. The pivot top 42 has a first end 44 and a second end 46. It also has a top 52 which is generally exposed when installed on the can 17 and a bottom 54 which is approximately the same size as the top of the can 17. Alternatively, the bottom 54 can be sized only larger than the drinking hole 36 in the can 17.
When in the first position,
Another use for the drink device 16 is when a user has the can in an insulating device around the can (not shown), these insulating devices are well known in the market. The arm 18 inner surface 28 and outer surface 30 have a profile that nearly matches the outer surface of the can 17. This would allow the arm 18 to be inserted between the can and the insulating device and be retained in the appropriate position relative thereto, not shown.
When the drink device 16 is affixed to the correct position relative to the can 17, the user can drink from the can 17 by placing, for example, the thumb of the hand onto the first end 44 of the pivot top 42 and applying a force F1 towards the bottom of the can 17,
These embodiments show a human force to both open and close the drink device 16 against the top of the can 17. It should be understood that a spring could also be incorporated into the design to allow a spring force to retain the pivot top 42 against the top of the can 17,
The boss holes 49 in the bosses 48, 24 are co-linear and of approximately the same diameter for housing a pin 64. Pin 64 is inserted (
It will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments, improvements, details and uses can be made consistent with the letter and spirit of the foregoing disclosure and within the scope of this application.
Claims
1. A device removably attached to and for selectively covering and uncovering the drinking hole in a beverage can, the device comprising:
- a pivot top having a top and a bottom, the pivot top having a second end and a first end, the first end having a rectangular section with a pair of bosses located near the bottom, one co-linear boss hole located in each boss, a pair of holes located between the bosses in the bottom;
- an arm, the arm having an inner surface and an outer surface, a top end and a bottom end, the top end having a pair of bosses extending away from the outer surface, each boss having a co-linear arm hole; and
- a pin, the pin inserted into one arm hole in the arm and through a corresponding adjacent boss hole in the boss of the pivot top, the pin inserted through a longitudinal center axis of a coiled spring such that the spring is located on the pin, the spring having a pair of legs, said legs inserted into holes in the bottom of the pivot top between the bosses, the pin inserted through the opposite boss hole of the pivot top and into the arm hole in the arm whereby the pivot top rotates on the pin relative to the arm and the spring biases the bottom of the pivot top against the top of the can.
2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:
- a ridge located on the bottom for sealing the drinking hole.
3. The device of claim 1, further comprising:
- a seal located on the bottom for sealing the drinking hole.
4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:
- a decorative element located on the top.
924922 | June 1909 | Neely et al. |
1115768 | November 1914 | Baron |
1490883 | April 1924 | Baron |
Type: Grant
Filed: Sep 6, 2016
Date of Patent: Oct 16, 2018
Inventor: Kenneth J. Defer (Clinton Township, MI)
Primary Examiner: Stephen Castellano
Application Number: 15/256,941
International Classification: B65D 51/04 (20060101); B65D 51/00 (20060101); B65D 43/06 (20060101);